Israeli airstrikes have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 38 Palestinians in Gaza, coinciding with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s departure for Washington to engage in discussions regarding a potential ceasefire. The airstrikes occurred on Sunday, intensifying the ongoing conflict.
Ceasefire discussions with the U.S.
Netanyahu is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday to deliberate on a proposal for a truce amidst the protracted 21-month war between Israel and Hamas. According to recent reports, the U.S. plan suggests an initial 60-day ceasefire, which would involve a partial release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for an increased flow of humanitarian supplies into Gaza.
The Israeli military has asserted that within the last 24 hours, it has targeted 130 sites across the Gaza Strip, focusing on Hamas’s command and control infrastructure, weapon storage facilities, and rocket launchers.
Negotiations and responses from Hamas
Late Saturday, Netanyahu’s office announced that an Israeli negotiating team would travel to Qatar on Sunday to engage in ceasefire discussions. However, the announcement also highlighted that Hamas had proposed amendments to the ceasefire plan that were deemed “unacceptable to Israel.”
“Hamas is seriously ready to enter immediately into a round of negotiations,” the group stated, expressing a “positive response” to the U.S.-brokered proposal.
Trump indicated on Friday that a ceasefire agreement could potentially be reached within the following week, signaling a possible shift towards de-escalation.
In related developments, Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem reiterated the group’s firm stance against disarmament until Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon and ceases its airstrikes. Kassem’s remarks were made during a video address as thousands gathered in the southern suburbs of Beirut to commemorate the Shiite holy day of Ashoura.